First Line Fridays: A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne #firstlinefridays #tarheelreader #thrladder @john_boyne @crownpublishing @hogarthbooks #aladdertothesky

TGIF, everyone! First Line Fridays is a fun way to share from books on your TBR.

Today my first line is from a book I am currently reading:

From the moment I accepted the invitation, I was nervous about returning to Germany. It had been so many years since I’d last been there, after all, that it was difficult to know what memories might be stirred up by my return.

My first book by John Boyne, and I am so excited to be fully immersed already. It’s exciting and haunting, and I can’t wait to watch it all come together.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The new novel from the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and The Heart’s Invisible Furies , a seductive Highsmithian psychodrama following one brilliant, ruthless man who will stop at nothing in his pursuit of fame

Maurice Swift is handsome, charming, and hungry for success. The one thing he doesn’t have is talent – but he’s not about to let a detail like that stand in his way. After all, a would-be writer can find stories anywhere. They don’t need to be his own.
Working as a waiter in a West Berlin hotel in 1988, Maurice engineers the perfect opportunity: a chance encounter with celebrated novelist Erich Ackermann. He quickly ingratiates himself with the powerful – but desperately lonely – older man, teasing out of Erich a terrible, long-held secret about his activities during the war. Perfect material for Maurice’s first novel.
Once Maurice has had a taste of literary fame, he knows he can stop at nothing in pursuit of that high. Moving from the Amalfi Coast, where he matches wits with Gore Vidal, to Manhattan and London, Maurice hones his talent for deceit and manipulation, preying on the talented and vulnerable in his cold-blooded climb to the top. But the higher he climbs, the further he has to fall…

Please share with me the first line(s) of the book you are currently reading! I would love to read it! Have you read A Ladder to the Sky, or do you plan to? Happy Friday reading! ~ Jenni THR

TGIF
Thanks for recommending this book. I plan to read it.
I am currently reading A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates. The first lines are: Grant Dodge was alone . And that was how he liked it. One of the characters is searching for her birth father. I am enjoying the read. Happy Friday!
🐎🎄💕📚

My first lines come from a book I’m very excited to be reading soon, Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverni……..

The heavy iron doors open and for a moment Mildred stands motionless and blinking in the sunlight, breathless from the sudden rush of cool, fresh air caressing her face and lifting her hair. The guard propels her forward into the prison yard, his grip painful and unyielding around her upper arm.

I nearly squealed when I saw the title! This is one of my most anticipated reads this month! So glad to hear you’re enjoying it so far! 😀

My current read is Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey, which I thought was just a straight-up thriller, but turns out there’s a bit more going on…;)

“Maybe this is one me, Liz Kendall thought as she tried in vain to breathe. A little bit, anyway. For sure, it was mostly the fault of her ex-husband, Marc, and his terrifying temper, but she could see where there might be a corner of it left she could claim for herself. Taking responsibilities for your own mistakes was important”

Yay! Kathy! I can’t wait to hear what you think of this one, too. Hmm, that is off to an intriguing start. I will be watching for your thoughts because now I want to know about the “bit more going on!” ♥️

I’ve had The Heart’s Invisible Furies on my TBR for an age – I really must read it sometime! Here’s my first lines…

“If you’ll permit me,” said the Stranger, “I’d like to tell you a story. After all, it’s a long journey and, by the loom of those skies, we’re not going to be leaving this carriage for some time. So, why not pass the hours with some story-telling? The perfect thing for a late October evening.”

It’s from The Stranger by Elly Griffiths, and it’s not all written like that – the first section is an extract from an old ghost story, but then it snaps to the present day.

I have The Heart’s waiting on my shelf, too, FF. I only got to this one in a timely manner because it’s an ARC. I hope to read my own books again one day soon! 😊 Guess what?! I have that book! In the US, it’s called The Stranger Diaries. I hope we both love it and can’t wait for your review!

I’ve read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by the same author and didn’t have the same reading experience that many others did, so I’ve been a little reticent to pick this one up. That said, I’m past due on reading The Heart’s Invisible Furies, so I’ll probably tackle that one first. Great review though. Gives me hope that my experience with the first one was an exception.

Thanks, Myndi! I’m hoping in the end I’ll love this one, too, and I still need to read The Heart’s and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas as well. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the former, and I’ll look forward to your thoughts!

I’m currently reading “Angelfire” by Deryn Pittar, the first lines are,
“Leviathan watched the Chosen One and decided the time had come. He’d waited two thousand years for this. Ever since he’d studied the scene in the stables. The small family. The magi, the shepherds, the host of angels. He knew, he too needed a son to rule with him. A son who would be even more mighty that he. A son great enough to take over the mantle of Satan.”

I just finished this last night and loved it! I’d read Striped Pajamas years ago, and loved it too! Like you, Hearts is still on my shelf waiting to be read, but I want to read it by the end of the year now! He’s such a brilliant author. Happy Monday! ❤

Oh, wow, snow flurries already?! Luckily I took as many pics as I could in advance, but I do still have some things blooming here- just a few. My hibiscus are blooming in the garage still which is funny! It’s a balmy 70 degrees in there, so I guess they are happy. Stay warm, Carrie! ♥️